Assessing the market: The latest on the Miami Dolphins’ search for a QB and RB

An assessment of the Quarterback and Running Back market entering Day 2 of the NFL’s Silly Season:

QUARTERBACK

Moves already made
* Minnesota – Set to trade for Donovan McNabb, pending McNabb’s approval of a new contract.
* Seattle – Has agreed to deal with Tarvaris Jackson, in the hunt for Matt Leinart.
* Tennessee – Has agreed to deal with Matt Hasselbeck.
* Buffalo – Has agreed to deal with Tyler Thigpen
* San Francisco – Has agreed to deal with Alex Smith

Latest Buzz
* The Cardinals have always been considered the front-runner to land Kolb, but they have cooled on the Eagles’ asking price – veteran Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a No. 1 pick – and are also looking into Orton and Bulger.

* The Bengals are taking a hard-line stance on Palmer, who wants out of Cincinnati so badly that he threatened to retire if not traded. Looks like Palmer might have to sit out 2011. “If he is going to walk away from his commitment, we aren’t going to reward him for doing it,” Bengals owner Mike Brown said Tuesday.

* The buzz around Young has been quiet, but the Eagles are reportedly checking him out, and the Redskins are expected to join the bidding.

* Oakland has been quiet but needs a quarterback to compete with/replace Jason Campbell.

* Bulger is on a few teams’ lists, but every indication is he’s happy being a backup in Baltimore.

What’s up with the Dolphins?
Forget Kolb or Palmer. If the Dolphins are going to sign a big-name quarterback, it will be Orton or Young. Orton makes more sense, but a trade will be expensive. The Dolphins will likely have to give up a second- or third-round pick to land Orton, and fit his $9 million contract for 2011 under the salary cap. The Dolphins (about $12 million under the cap) have the space for Orton, but would probably have to cut other veterans in order to sign other free agents.

But with Minnesota, Seattle and Tennessee taking themselves out of the Orton running, the Dolphins might be best-served to hold off on a trade. The Broncos are approximately $5 million over the cap, and could cut Orton out of necessity on Thursday if they don’t receive a suitable trade offer. Orton becomes much more attractive if he is a free agent and doesn’t have a $9 million cap number attached to him. But the Dolphins would have to fend off the Cardinals, Redskins and Bengals for his services.

As for Young, he probably can receive a better opportunity to start in 2011 with another team – Oakland, Washington, Cincinnati.

RUNNING BACK

Moves already made
* Carolina Panthers — Re-signed DeAngelo Williams to a 5-year deal with $21 million guaranteed on Wednesday, according to reports.

Latest Buzz
* ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that the Giants are “working to sign” Bradshaw, who is only 25 and can be the centerpiece of the Giants’ running attack.

* Benson remains the Bengals’ top offensive priority, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, even with his July 17 arrest.

* The same teams that will be interested in Bush will also be interested in Sproles – Miami, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Indy.

* McGahee, to be released by Baltimore, has already been linked to Denver.

* The Dolphins have interest in Barber, according to Schefter. Barber played for Tony Sparano and Jeff Ireland in Dallas, and could be signed as Daniel Thomas’ backup.

What’s up with the Dolphins?
If and when Miami misses on Bradshaw and Williams, then all attention turns to Bush and Sproles. Most likely, the Dolphins will sign two running backs – one speed guy (Bush, Sproles, Steve Slaton, Jerious Norwood) and one straight-line backup type (Barber, Brown, Williams).